zhōumò: 周末 - Weekend

• Keywords: weekend in Chinese, zhoumo, 周末, how to say weekend in Chinese, Chinese for weekend, zhoumo kuai le, making plans in Chinese, Chinese time words, HSK 1 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn how to say “weekend” in Chinese with the essential term 周末 (zhōumò). This comprehensive guide is perfect for beginners, exploring the meaning, cultural context, and practical use of 周末. Discover how to make plans with friends, wish someone a “Happy Weekend” (周末快乐 - zhōumò kuàilè), and understand the modern concept of work-life balance in China. With over 10 practical example sentences, you'll master this fundamental word in no time.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): zhōumò
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: The end of the week; the weekend (typically Saturday and Sunday).
• In a Nutshell: 周末 (zhōumò) is the direct and most common equivalent of the English word “weekend”. It's a fundamental vocabulary item used for planning social activities, talking about your schedule, and wishing someone well before they leave work on a Friday. It refers to the standard two-day break from the work or school week.

• 周 (zhōu): This character's original meaning relates to a cycle, circuit, or revolution. In a modern context, its most common meaning is “week”. Think of the seven days as one complete cycle.
• 末 (mò): This character means “end,” “tip,” or “final stage.” It's composed of a tree (木) with a line marking its top, indicating the very end of something.
• When combined, 周末 (zhōumò) literally means “the end of the week-cycle,” a perfectly logical and easy-to-remember construction for “weekend.”

The five-day work week and two-day weekend is a relatively modern concept in China, officially adopted nationwide in 1995. Before this, a six-day work week was the norm. While 周末 (zhōumò) now functions much like “weekend” in the West, its cultural texture can be different. In the West, the weekend is often seen as a period of pure leisure and personal freedom—a time to “get away” from obligations. In China, while leisure is a key component, the 周末 is also a critical time for other kinds of activities:

• Family Obligations: Visiting parents and grandparents is a very common weekend activity, reflecting the strong cultural value of family cohesion.
• Intense Education: For families with children, the weekend is often packed with tutoring sessions and extracurricular classes (补习班 - bǔxíbān), as the pressure in the Chinese education system is immense.
• Socializing: Getting together with friends for long meals, shopping, or going to KTV (karaoke) is extremely popular.

This contrasts with the controversial “996” work culture (9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week) present in some hyper-competitive industries, where the concept of a restful 周末 is more of an ideal than a reality. For most people, however, the 周末 is a cherished break and a vital part of the rhythm of modern Chinese life.

周末 (zhōumò) is an extremely high-frequency word used in all registers of conversation, from casual chats with friends to more formal scheduling.

• Making Plans: It's the go-to word for arranging activities. You'll constantly hear questions like, “这个周末你有什么安排？” (What are your plans for this weekend?).
• Time Word: It functions as a “time word.” In Chinese grammar, time words are typically placed after the subject and before the verb. For example, “我 周末 去看电影” (I on the weekend go see a movie).
• Well Wishes: The phrase “周末快乐! (Zhōumò kuàilè!)” - Happy weekend! - is a very common and friendly way to say goodbye to colleagues and friends on a Friday afternoon.

• Example 1:
  • 这个周末你有什么打算？
  • Pinyin: Zhège zhōumò nǐ yǒu shéme dǎsuàn?
  • English: What are your plans for this weekend?
  • Analysis: A classic, essential phrase for making plans. 打算 (dǎsuàn) means “plan” or “to plan.”

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• Example 2:
  • 祝你周末愉快！
  • Pinyin: Zhù nǐ zhōumò yúkuài!
  • English: Wish you a pleasant weekend!
  • Analysis: A slightly more formal but very common alternative to 周末快乐 (zhōumò kuàilè). 愉快 (yúkuài) means “pleasant” or “joyful.”

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• Example 3:
  • 上个周末我去看电影了。
  • Pinyin: Shàng ge zhōumò wǒ qù kàn diànyǐng le.
  • English: I went to see a movie last weekend.
  • Analysis: Here, 上个 (shàng ge) means “last” or “the previous.” The particle 了 (le) at the end indicates a completed action.

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• Example 4:
  • 我周末通常在家休息。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ zhōumò tōngcháng zài jiā xiūxi.
  • English: I usually rest at home on the weekend.
  • Analysis: Shows the placement of the time word 周末 after the subject (我) and before the verb phrase.

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• Example 5:
  • 你这个周末有空吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ zhège zhōumò yǒu kòng ma?
  • English: Are you free this weekend?
  • Analysis: 有空 (yǒu kòng) literally means “to have free time” and is a key phrase for checking someone's availability.

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• Example 6:
  • 下个周末我们去爬山，怎么样？
  • Pinyin: Xià ge zhōumò wǒmen qù páshān, zěnmeyàng?
  • English: Let's go hiking next weekend, how about it?
  • Analysis: 下个 (xià ge) means “next.” Adding 怎么样 (zěnmeyàng) at the end of a statement turns it into a suggestion.

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• Example 7:
  • 因为下雨，我们整个周末都待在家里。
  • Pinyin: Yīnwèi xià yǔ, wǒmen zhěnggè zhōumò dōu dāi zài jiālǐ.
  • English: Because it was raining, we stayed at home for the entire weekend.
  • Analysis: 整个 (zhěnggè) means “whole” or “entire,” used here to emphasize the duration.

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• Example 8:
  • 每个周末，公园里都挤满了人。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge zhōumò, gōngyuán lǐ dōu jǐ mǎn le rén.
  • English: Every weekend, the park is packed with people.
  • Analysis: 每个 (měi ge) means “every.” This sentence shows 周末 being used at the very beginning for emphasis, which is also common.

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• Example 9:
  • 我很期待这个周末的派对。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ hěn qīdài zhège zhōumò de pàiduì.
  • English: I'm really looking forward to the party this weekend.
  • Analysis: 期待 (qīdài) is a great word for “to look forward to” or “to expect.”

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• Example 10:
  • 他周末也得加班，真是太辛苦了。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhōumò yě děi jiābān, zhēnshi tài xīnkǔ le.
  • English: He even has to work overtime on the weekend, it's really tough.
  • Analysis: This sentence reflects the cultural reality of overtime (加班 - jiābān) and expresses sympathy with 辛苦 (xīnkǔ), which means “hard” or “toilsome.”

• Time Word Placement: The most common mistake for English speakers is word order. In English, “on the weekend” usually comes at the end of a sentence. In Chinese, the time word 周末 almost always comes before the verb.
  • Correct: 我 周末 去商店。(Wǒ zhōumò qù shāngdiàn.)
  • Incorrect: 我去商店周末。(Wǒ qù shāngdiàn zhōumò.)
• 周末 vs. 星期六和星期天 (xīngqīliù hé xīngqītiān): While 周末 means “weekend,” you can also say “Saturday and Sunday.” They are often interchangeable, but 周末 is used more frequently when talking about the weekend as a single block of time for plans or activities. Use the specific day names when the specific day matters.
  • General: 这个周末我们吃饭吧。(Let's have a meal this weekend.)
  • Specific: 我们星期六吃饭吧。(Let's have a meal on Saturday.)
• “Long Weekend”: There isn't a direct single word for “long weekend.” You would describe it by saying it's a three-day weekend or mentioning the holiday. For example: “这个周末有三天假” (zhège zhōumò yǒu sān tiān jià) - “There are three days off this weekend.”

• 工作日 (gōngzuòrì) - Workday / Weekday. The direct antonym of 周末.
• 假日 (jiàrì) - Holiday / Vacation. A broader term that includes 周末 as well as national holidays.
• 休息 (xiūxi) - To rest. The primary activity one does on a 周末.
• 加班 (jiābān) - To work overtime. A common reality that intrudes upon the 周末.
• 放假 (fàngjià) - To have a day off; to be on holiday. The state of not having to work, which defines the 周末.
• 星期六 (xīngqīliù) - Saturday. The first day of the typical 周末.
• 星期天 (xīngqītiān) or 星期日 (xīngqīrì) - Sunday. The second day of the typical 周末.
• 周末快乐 (zhōumò kuàilè) - Happy Weekend! A set phrase using 周末.
• 安排 (ānpái) - To arrange; plan. A verb often used in conjunction with 周末 to make plans.